Netflix ends native support for casting features on older and many smart TVs

Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile app to most modern TVs and streaming devices. 

Previously, users could open Netflix on their phones and “cast” shows or movies onto a TV using devices like a Chromecast — useful in hotels, Airbnbs, or TVs without a Netflix app,according to Ars Technica. 

The new reality: unless you use an older Chromecast model (without a remote) or an older TV that natively supports Google Cast — and you’re on one of Netflix’s ad-free (premium) plans — the Cast option will no longer be available. 

For almost all smart TVs, newer Chromecast devices, or streaming sticks with built-in operating systems and remotes, the only option left is to open Netflix directly via the TV’s native app and use the remote to navigate. 

This change came without much fanfare — many users discovered it only when the Cast button vanished following a recent update. 

Some subscribers, particularly travelers and people who often switch TVs, expressed frustration. Casting was appreciated for letting them log in once on their phone and watch on a bigger screen without having to sign into every new TV — now they must type credentials every time, and hope they remember to log out afterward. 

In short: Netflix seems to be steering users toward native TV apps and away from mobile-based casting. For most viewers, the “cast from phone to TV” convenience is gone — unless they have legacy hardware and a pricey subscription.